Weekend with the boys

I got to spend a weekend with Andrew and Emerson while baby Audrey was born. It worked out great that she was born on a Friday. I picked the boys up from their house around 3pm. Emerson did not want to come and made it very difficult for his poor parents. Eventually we got him in the car. He only screamed until we got to the freeway. Both the boys slept all the way to Provo after the screaming episode!

Audrey was born a little later that day. The boys and I hung out all weekend. It was EXHAUSTING. I am not use to being on high alert 24/7 but it was also so fun. I got lots and lots of Emerson cuddles since his mom was gone. I love those cuddles and I usually don't get them.These boys are so sweet. Andrew was so excited to have a baby sister. I am pretty sure he will be the best big brother!

Friday evening we went up the canyon with Dan and Anthony. We met up with some of the Robertsons and had dinner and smores. The boys loved it. They love being outside and they love smores.

 The boys loved the Cheetos and loved being in their little camping chairs.

 Saturday we went to the park and flew my drone, visited their little sister, went swimming at the Provo Rec Center, I dragged them grocery shopping, and we ended the evening watching Ferdinand! We were busy but the boys did so well. They are not use to being away from their parents for such a long time.

Sunday morning we went to the park. relaxed. Showered and got ready for church. Went to Sacrament meeting before heading back home to see mom, dad and baby sister. They were so handsome for church I had to document it.

 They did so well in church. We stacked up on snacks and toys and they were so good!

 Love these sweet boys so much.

 Emerson and Andrew both took naps on the way home. We were all exhausted after a long weekend.

Then we all got to snuggle baby Audrey:)

Good Weather, Bad Weather and lots of hiking

Spring in Utah is CRAZY!!! It can be 70 degrees one day and snowing the next. It is always an adventure. I have really enjoyed not coaching track. It has given me time to take naps and do lots of hiking. Most days Moki and I pick a canyon, try to convince some poor soul to come with us, and then hike up the canyon for an hour. It is great cardio and it is great to be outdoors.

I documented my car one morning when I woke up to this:(

 Somehow I convinced Anthony to come hike Rock Canyon with me. He complained and told me he would hate it. I think he actually enjoyed it he just couldn't admit it. We hiked up for an hour. It was a great evening. I really enjoyed the company. He also brought his camera and took this picture.

Amber and I went back up Rock Canyon on a Saturday. We went all the way to the campground. It was a beautiful day.

 I got a new toy. A gopro drone. I am loving it but I love the Karma grip even more. I hiked an hour on the Y mountain trail to play with the Karma stick. I got this shot a mile above the Y. Such a gorgeous evening.

 Moki and I have gone up Slate Canyon multiple times this year.We have watched it slowly come to life. It is looking so green now. That is the hike I am liking the most these days. It is the closest and least occupied so Moki can be off leash. We both wear ourselves out.

Moki has been doing this crazy thing this spring where she picks up bones of dead animals. So far we have had two deer legs, a vertebrae, and a femur. It really is gross. She seems to love it though. Dogs are so weird. The deer leg cracks me up because she loves to chase deer but the only ones she will ever catch are already dead:)

 Anthony and I hiked Stewart Falls last night. It was a beautiful evening. We had fun. the only downer was that I hiked my drone all the way in and them crashed it on the takeoff. SO ANNOYING!!! It broke three of the blades so I didn't even get to use it. So dumb. Anthony insisted on a picture when we got back to the parking lot.

This time of year is so nice. I biked to work four days last week. Amber and I biked 36 miles yesterday in the 80 degree weather. It is just so fun. I have also started playing pickleball. I had to learn to teach my students and I have played with Tanner, Erica, and Anthony. It is so fun.

Look Where I Work

Let's talk about how beautiful Utah is!?!? This is my view everyday while I teach PE. I think I hit the jackpot when it comes to work. I love love love Lakeridge. My co-workers, the kids, the location . . . . I feel so blessed. Every year is not created equal. In thirteen years at the school I have definitely had my ups and downs but I seriously love this community. After a couple of really emotionally hard years with my dad's declining health and death this year has been a dream (knock on wood). I just look at this picture and am so grateful for everything in my life because of this place I spend most of my time at.

Last Stop: Oroville

We had one day in Oroville. Northern California in the spring is magical and I just love visiting this time of year. The day started with a 3 mile run with Moki. Oroville had gotten a lot of rain the previous day and so we ran though lots of flooded streets. Mt feet were soaked by the time we got home. Moki didn't mind one bit.

 I still had Braxton and Olivia with me so we tried to make the most of our time together. We woke up and started off by jumping on the trampoline. They love when I jump with them. I still love the trampoline even though I am so old! The weather was amazing. All the storms had passed and it was a beautiful Saturday.

Mikila stopped by in the morning and I made her go to Wal-mart with me. When we got home Jacklyn was there. We played games, had lunch and visited. In the afternoon Jacklyn and I took the kids and Moki and Scout to table Mountain to hike Phantom Falls. Phantom Falls is a waterfall that only exists after a rain storm. Table mountain was magical. We hiked around four miles. The dogs were in heaven and honestly the kids did amazing. They complained a little but I was expecting more complaining so I was pleasantly surprised.

There was another big waterfall flowing on the way to Phantom Falls. It was such a gorgeous day and a fun outing.

 Table mountain wildflowers!!!

 Some of my co-workers saw my pictures and felt like I was in Ireland. It really is so beautiful.

 I let the kids run through the water as much as they wanted. We finally took off Braxtons shirt because it was so wet.

 The first water fall

Phantom Falls

Once we got to the falls Braxton said he couldn't believe we hiked all that way for such a small waterfall. Kids are so funny!!!

These two haven't hiked much so I was really proud of them.

The way back was obviously a little more challenging because they were tired. But after I bribed them with ice cream they did great. Well great until Braxton had to pee and he refused to go outside.....HELLO!!!!!

 It was such a beautiful evening. There were tons of people up there.

 Just jumping across little streams.

 Moki was in her happy place. Then she rolled in cow poop, which is still her happy place but not mine. I wanted to kill her. She stunk so bad and after a bath she still has a green tint to her upper body. Some days I could kill this dog.

 We had such a nice time. I am glad Jacklyn came so we could visit, let our dogs play and tag team the kids.

 After the hike we went back to my mom's and had dinner. Then the kids got ready for bed and watched Ferdinand. Let's talk about how it is the cutest movie ever. They loved it and so did all of the adults. It was a long, busy, and tiring day. I was so happy I got to spend so much time with Olivia and Braxton. I sure hate living so far away from them.

Nancy and I headed back to Utah Sunday morning. We listened to all five sessions of general conference in the car. That was awesome. We had missed some sessions because of ball games and then it turns out watching conference with kids was less effective. It was a great way to pass the time in the car. What an amazing conference. We got home just in time for bed before the start of a new work week.

Spring break was definitely a success!!!!

Willits

Since I was in California I wanted to fit in a visit with my dad's family while there. I really love his siblings and my grandma and I miss them living in Utah. They are such good good people. Also very fun people. Thursday morning we kidnapped Olivia and Braxton and headed to Jan and Lou's in Willits. It just so happened that my cousin Joel and family were also in Willits for their spring break. We were only there for like 30 hours but we tried to make the best of it. Unfortunately I don't have any pictures of the adults. I was able to see Jan, Lou, Grandma Brown, Pete, Joel, Michelle, Seth and Taylor. Along with my mom, Nancy and Virginia who also came to Willits. It rained the entire time we were there. Most of the time it rained really hard so we were stuck in doors. We did escape for the neighbors pitching machine, go-carts, a walk, and a second walk to feed the neighbors horses. Inside we visited, played lots of games, ate a ton, and tried to keep the kids happy!

The kids loved the go-carts! Seth and Taylor were so nice to share.

I loved watching Braxton play any game on the Nintendo switch that involved moving. He was so active and would play so hard. Normally I try to keep them off of electronics when I have them but I was so grateful for the switch because of all the rain.

 Even though it was short I am so glad we made the effort to go to Willits. I love those people and it was so good to see them all.

Yosemite National Park

I love Yosemite National Park. I think it might be my favorite National Park, at least that I have visited. I was so excited to show my mom, Nancy and Virginia Yosemite.We entered the park up above Yosemite Valley so it was awesome to take in the view from up above. AMAZING!

After we stopped to admire the view we headed to Bridal Veil Falls. This is a paved short hike that we knew all four of us could do. I have only been to Yosemite one other time, it was in July. Spring in Yosemite was awesome because the waterfalls had so much water flowing from them.

 In July when i visited this waterfall was a trickle. In April you could feel the mist 100's of yards away.

After that small excursion we stopped in the valley to take some pictures. I don't know how you don't stop it is so amazing.

 Yosemite Upper Falls had so much water coming off of it. So did the lower falls.

I wanted to do a more strenuous hike so we chose the mist trail. There are two water falls on this trail. It is one of the trails you can take to hike Half Dome. There are a number of view points and so my mom, Virgina and I decided to hike this trail. We would hike as far as we wanted. I went up as fast as I could. Maybe a little too fast because my legs were feeling it by the time I got to Nevada Falls. It was 3.5 miles straight uphill with lots and lots of steps. It felt so good to go hard.

Steps leading up to Vernal Falls. This is the first waterfall you pass on the mist trail.

 It is quite a sight!

 Nevada Falls

 The side of Nevada falls

 Looking down toward the valley from the top of Nevada falls. So much water.

 Another look at Vernal Falls on the way back down.

There was a cute little black bear hanging out on the other side of Vernal Falls. I didn't get a good picture so I won't post it but he?she was fun to watch. My mom and Virginia made it to Vernal falls. this hike is family friendly but very steep. The scenery is some of the best I have ever seen. I love this trail.

After the hike we grabbed some food and headed to Lodi. It was a great day. I love Yosemite and feel like I could spend a week there and barely explore the valley. It is such a great place.